The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
TRUE AS STEEL.

81 do wonder why those little savage:
are allowed to make coasting hill of the
public highway" grumblcd an uncom
monty pretty girl. as she hesitated in
great perturbation half way up the I'M
provised slide mentioned.
II was an irregular and rather precipi
tous cross street of suburban village
1t was treachcrously icy and swarmino
with juvenile coasters. one of whom had
carried strip ofsilken ruby hounce with
him as he dartcd past her.
'1t is quite too bad! and my very
incest dress, too," she complained, men
tally, as she stopped to draw back and
pin together the damaged bit of drapery.
In the annoyance of the moment she
did rot reflect that something more un-
pleasant was quite possible if she were
not vigiant.
She was quite too engrosscd to hear
boyish shouts of warning in the road
above her, or to see an agile figure that
was springing affrightedly toward her.
A big sled, freighted with half dozen
reckless urchins, had started down the
tempting descent; on the CLASSY track it
had become partly unmanageable; in a
second more it would be upon her unless
she heed those warning shouts or a
miracle interposed to save her.
Before she really had time to compre-
hend her peril or understand the sudden,
shrill vociferation, there was a wild
whirring in the air and a tlgling shock.
and the next instant she felt herself
violently whirled aside by a strong arm
which had seized her as the sled flew past
The agile figure of manly pedestrian
whose affrighted gestures she had not no.
ticed, had flung himself between her and
death, or worse, and she was safe.
AS she struggled to her feet cry of
gratitude and pity quivered from her
startled lips
She fully realized what her peril had
been and her pity was for her handsome
rescuer, who was lying stunned and
bruised and bleeding before her.
'Oh, what can say to you?-what
can I do2" she faltered, IN a distressing
voice, as she bent over him.
His handsome features were alarmingly
pallid, and there were tiny drops of warm
red blood staining the frozen snow which
pillowed his fallen head
But the bright dark eyes Enclosed
with flashing smile which was delight
fully tranquilizing.
'Say only that I have made charm
ing friend" he smiled, as with a vince of
pain he uplifted himself to sitting
posture. ~ am not badly hurt. have
surface cash on my cheek, think, and
have a notion there is spraincd limb.
shall not be able to get to my destina-
tion-that's certain" he added, as he
made an heroic attempt to stand upright,
only to sink back again with a snp-
pressed groan.
Just then the big sled was hauled back
up the street, the reckless coasters all
penitent and terrified. and eager to render
every service.
A helpful idea frightened the girls
anxious face.
ut would be an hour before proper
assistance could be brought to you here"
she said, in her quick, s-@eet, girlish
voice. "But there is a dear, mothcrly
old lady living in that little cottage at
the top of the hill. Let the boys put YOU
on the sled and take you up to her. She
is my friend and she will do whatever I
wish"
And so few minutes later the in jured
young gentleman was snugly ensconced
on cosey lounge of the cosey little cot
tsge and a physician had been sent for.
''Ah, you will be all right again in a
few days" the doctor said, cheerfully.
"only you must keep yourself perfectly
quiet, and not try to exert yourself in
any way"
II can reconcile myself to the situation
easily if you will promise to cheer my
imprisonment occasionally" the gentle
man said, with one of his flashing smiles
toward the pretty girl who readily prom
ised what he seemed so eagerly to desire.
And that was the beginning of pretty
Dorinda Grey's acquaintance with the
handso ONE young stranger whom she had
exalted to hero-a king among men.
He had done only what any other man
would have done in similar circumstan-
ces. He had simply snatched her away
from the track of the flying sled. lie
had perceived no risk to himself, no
sacrifice; he had been safely beyond any
collision with the coasier-it was his own
awkward stumble on the trcacherously
CLASSY incline which had caused his mis-
hap. The peril was over when he had
slipped upon one of his heels and fallen
1t might have happened just the same
even if he had not fastened gallantly to
the rescue of distractingly pretty girl
But these were tritiing little truths
which he did not deem absolutely neces-
sary to reveal. 1t was too pleasant to
pose as a wounded hero, and to have his
temporary confinement cnlivened by the
visits of his graceful and interesting new
acquaintance. For his own sake he pre-
ferred not to spoil her little illusions on
the subject.
And so Dorinda went homeward, tax
ing with her the Image of an elegant fig
ure and handsome countenancc of a fasci-
mating young stranger, whose tones were
like music. whose smile was like Il flash
Of sunlight. whose brilliant black eyes
had gazed admiringly, almost tcnderly,
into her own.
Her own great brown eyes were bright
as stars, her checks flushed with a curl
ouslv wavcring rose tint, as she at length
entered the fine old yellow stone mansion
at the further end of the village street.
What on earth has kept you so long,
Dodo:" qucried tall and stately young
lady in an elegant morning dress CT Sevres
blue satin. did they have the kind Of
pacha braid I wanted at the store?-ol
din vou foroet your crrand. and stay al